Expenditure Breakdown - Federally Focused Organizations

527 groups are tax-exempt organizations that engage in political
activities, often through unlimited soft money contributions. Most 527s on this
list are advocacy groups trying to influence federal elections through voter
mobilization efforts and so-called issue ads that tout or criticize a candidate's
record. 527s must report their contributors and expenditures to the IRS, unless
they already file identical information at the state or local level. The figures
below are taken from 527 group filings with the IRS. (To view 527s for state party
or candidate committees, such as the Republican Governors Association and the
Democratic Governors Association, click here.

For ease of identification, the 527 organization names used in this section are
those of the connected organization, rather than the official name of the 527 account.
For example, the "NEA Fund for Children and Public Education" is simply listed as
"National Education Assn."

Chart

Description

Total Expenditures

Transfers to cmtes

$18,477,478

Contribs to cmtes

$14,621,495

Salaries

$9,476,750

Natl party contribs

$5,944,475

Fundraising mailings

$5,725,728

State cand contribs

$4,583,616

Fundraising fees

$4,539,759

Unknown consulting

$2,277,427

State party contribs

$2,204,304

Misc media

$2,190,064

Accounting & legal

$1,809,491

Admin travel

$1,788,662

Misc fundraising

$1,624,861

Admin event expenses

$1,552,195

Rent & utilities

$1,437,560

Fundraising events

$1,331,576

Broadcast ads

$1,266,655

Fundraising consult

$1,149,453

Unknown print & mail

$1,109,363

Campaign consulting

$1,038,594

Campaign materials

$837,022

Polling & surveys

$798,518

Admin data & tech

$630,702

Unknown events

$485,590

Admin consulting

$407,304

Campaign events

$378,778

Misc contributions

$334,081

Unknown data & tech

$321,690

Non-expenditures

$188,132

Fedl cand contribs

$187,548

Misc admin

$168,793

Media production

$151,535

Contrib refunds

$117,574

Fundraising data

$96,985

Web ads

$96,381

Media consulting

$88,559

Campaign data & tech

$86,984

State prty transfers

$65,000

Media buys

$55,790

Print ads

$23,810

Unknown supplies

$12,737

This data is based on records released by the Internal Revenue Service on Monday, August 04, 2014.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

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